Art vs the artist

I, myself think the actions of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard who has withdrew from the lineup to protest the inclusion of Sticky Fingers is cowardly – but I am not going to stop listening to their music.

This whole controversy is predicated on the idea that we – the rock audience – expect rockstars to be well behaved. And would cease to listen to our favourite bands because of uncouthness or even straight up vileness.

This is a doubtful assumption.

Rockstars are not in the category of a Dahl - their vile personalities don't merely transcend their work - but being 'bad boys' or 'edgy' or transgressive' is typically expected if not celebrated.

The cancellation attempt might even help Sticky Fingers' popularity.

The outcome of this current cancellation attempt will largely depend on the audience of the Bluesfest – not it's organisers who have been noble in their steadfastness. Whether the musicians that will pull out are significant enough for ticket sales to drop or the popularity of Sticky Fingers will prevail over all the hoo-ha remains to be seen.

But for all the moral posturing over what artists say and do, if the public (and even the activists) are unwilling to boycott their art then attempts to cancel will be unsuccessful.